Power management system using a multi-master multi-slave bus and multi-function point-of-load regulators

摘要

A power management system may comprise two or more POL regulators configured to transmit and receive data over a shared bus according to either a proprietary or a common bus protocol. Each POL regulator may be identified by a unique address that is part of an address group, and may be configured via pin strapping to be able to perform a variety of power management functions. Any one of the POL regulators within the address group may become a bus master and transmit information to the shared bus by addressing itself. The other POL regulators in the address group may monitor the shared bus for events, and may respond to the transmitted information according to their address, their configuration, and the transmitted information. The response may include the POL regulators performing one or more power management functions, including adjusting their respective output voltages. The POL regulators may respond to each event according to the requirements corresponding to the event, thereby performing the necessary tasks to enable power management functions without the need for interconnecting analog signal lines and without being explicitly controlled.